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The Air Jordan 3
Michael Jordan's contract with Nike was about to expire in 1987, and Nike knew that they need to do something big to keep him on board.
Enter designer Tinker Hatfield: after listening to exactly what Jordan wanted in a sneaker, he designed the Air Jordan 3 and saved the day.
Setting a new standard for Nike and Jordan's sneakers, the Air Jordan 3 is one of the most popular Air Jordan models of all time.
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The Air Jordan 3 Design
When Michael Jordan told designer Tinker Hatfield exactly what he wanted in a sneaker, Hatfield listened; after working on the project day and night to get Jordan a prototype, his dedication paid off when the star loved the design.
He wanted something that wasn't as high as everything else currently on the scene, something comfortable straight out of the box, and something that had a sophisticated look.
The Air Jordan 3 encompassed everything Jordan wanted. The visible Air Unit in the heel ensured ultimate comfort and responsiveness, and the medium-height cut paired with the now iconic elephant skin-print on the upper presented a stylish silhouette.
The Jumpman logo on the tongue was another important new feature. The absence of Nike's typical branding gave Jordan the chance to make a statement.
It's no surprise that Jordan Nike extended his Nike contract after being presented with the Air Jordan 3.
Popular AJ3 Colorways
Fire Red
First released in 1988, the 'Fire Red' makes use of vibrant red accents on the midsole, collar, heel and eyestays. The clean white upper and iconic Elephant print ensured this sneaker got a lot of attention when it dropped.
Black Cement
One of the first designs to feature the Nike Air logo on the heel instead of the classic Jordan Jumpman, the 'Black Cement' made waves when it released as it flipped the usual white upper on its head in a mostly black colorway. Accents of Fire Red and the Elephant Print complimented the design.
White Cement
Part of Jordan Brand's 'Reimagined' series, the AJ3 Retro 'White Cement' looks identical to the 1988 OG release, with a special vintage look. The eyelets, back panels and midsoles have all been yellowed to give that retro vibe.
Cool Grey
A soft grey colorway, the 'Cool Grey' made use of contrasting darker shades of grey on the outsole and heel, with yellow eyelets finishing off the look.
Dark Iris
Released in 2022, this clean white colorway used royal purple accents to add a sophisticated look to the model. A Jumpman logo replaces the Nike Air logo on the back of the colorway.
True Blue
First released in 1988, the 'True Blue' is one of the most popular colorways on the AJ3. Pairing white tumbled leather with the iconic Elephant print, True Blue accent and a Team Red tongue lining, the colorway is certainly a great addition to any sneaker collection.
Mocha
Replacing the usual Elephant print, a Mocha brown colour overtakes this colorway for a fresh look.
First released in 2001, the sneaker was re-released in 2018 and remains very popular.
UNC
A mostly white base combined with a light blue makes the 'UNC' a clean and versatile sneaker. First released in 2018, the sneaker made a comeback only two years later in 2020.
Desert Elephant
A striking colorway that gives a unique twist to the original 'Black Cement' colorway, the AJ3 'Desert Elephant' has an upper of black leather with brown accents at the forefront and heel.
Pine Green
This black and green design was dropped in 2021, and the 'Pine Green' quickly proved a popular colorway. Grey accents on the tongue, outsole and eyelets perfectly compliment the design.
'Black' and 'White' Cement
Most fans remember Michael Jordan wearing the Air Jordan 3 during the 1988 NBA All-Star game for the first time, but he was actually wearing the 'White Cement' colorway from as early as November 1987.
Probably the most famous colorways on the Air Jordan 3, the 'White Cement' and 'Black Cement' have been re-released many times over the years, and never dip in popularity.
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